It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
